The Utica Police Department Can Come to Your House for Christmas

Wouldn't you like to have the Utica Police over for Christmas? They'd love to hang around...in your tree.

Okay, kind of.

The Landmarks Society of Greater Utica has announced their 2017 ornament. This year, the collectible keepsake features the Utica Police Department building. That means you can have the entire department at your house for the holidays.

The Christmas tree ornaments make a great gift for friends and family who appreciate the storied past of Utica's architecture...or maybe have some fond memories of the station as an employee or perpetrator. The ornament costs $24.00, and the proceeds go to the restoration efforts of Numbers 1 and 3 Rutger Park in Utica.

If you want to pick one up, The Landmarks Society of Greater Utica is holding Its 2017 Ornament Reception at the Utica Police Department on Oriskany Blvd. on November 2. The reception is from 5pm-8pm. The reception is free to the public.

The Police Department headquarters has an interesting history:

From 1878 to 1928 Police operations were located at the old city hall on Pearl and Genesee Streets, now the Radisson Hotel. Known for its arched windows, interesting wall designs and the “castle effect” of its parapet roof, the Utica Police Department has been a fixture of the downtown landscape since its completion in 1928. The current Utica Police Department building opened in 1927 and was completed in 1928 at a cost of $215,000. The building also housed Utica City Court operation which included judge’s chambers, two courtrooms, a prisoner holding area and court administrative offices. The actual police operations, administration, and investigations were located in the basement and on the first floor.

If you have any questions or want to buy an ornament, contact the Landmarks Society on their Facebook page or call 315-732-7376.